It is needless to

sand a day is the average entry of new members. say that the offices necessary for conducting so gigantic a business have expanded into extensive premises (in Victoria Street), with a vast staff of employés, occupied in sorting and attempting to cope with masses of correspondence from all parts of the country. The chiefs of the party have been glad to accept the highest honours of the League, and have testified to the great results achieved. Many and many a public man, who laughed at first at our strange nomenclature,' and was incredulous of our success, has since eagerly sought our aid in founding Habitations in his county or borough, and has largely benefited by the work done by the Knights, Dames, and Associates.

Perhaps the simplest key to a comprehension of the procedure of the Primrose League is to state the conditions and mode of conduct of a Habitation.

Any person can join the League by sending his name to the central office in Victoria Street, with a 'crown '--half-a-crown being his entrance fee, and half-a-crown his year's tribute. Upon his signing a declaration of fidelity to the principles of the League, he receives his diploma of Knight Harbinger, and provided with this he, with not less than twelve other knights, can apply for a warrant ' to form a Habitation. After this follows the election of a Ruling Councillor, the appointment of secretary, treasurer, wardens, and other officials. Great latitude is allowed to all Habitations so long as they are careful to keep within the strict statutes of the parent League. They may admit associates and fix their tribute at sixpence or whatever sum they deem proper, and they may keep within small limits or extend themselves, as some have done, to thousands, according to the necessities of the town or county in which they are situate. The first and most obvious business of a Habitation is to attend to Registration. I could name counties, such as Suffolk and Hampshire, where the network of Habitations is so complete that every vote in every house in the various electoral divisions is accounted for. The members of Habitations volunteer to take some small district or half a street, and to notify all deaths, departures, or arrivals, so that the Registration may be carefully kept up by the Conservative Association to which they communicate these results. The next duty is to maintain a permanent canvass by means of individual persuasion or public meeting, and to be ready to canvass out-voters at times of byelections. E.g. an election comes off at York or Devonport; the election agent sends to the central Conservative office at Westminster the names of out-voters resident in London, Leamington, Brighton, &c. The central office sends in the names and addresses to the Grand Council in Victoria Street. They are at once classified and sent to Habitations in the towns named, and the various districts of London; and each local Habitation has it at once in its power to

send voluntary canvassers for each name sent in. Of course, when an election comes on, all Habitations, following the example of the Conservative Associations, suspend their existence, and can take no corporate action. But the individual members, acting no longer as members of the Primrose League, but as individuals, can volunteer to join the committees organised by the election agent. And in these days, when expenses are curtailed and it is no small difficulty to meet the demands of an election from the exiguous sums allowed by the law, the services of volunteers are invaluable, when, as in elections I could name, a number of ladies undertake to write out the addresses on thousands of envelopes, or when scores of young men volunteer two hours a day each for the purpose of delivering circulars, &c., all of which reach their destination, since it is a point of honour to hand them in a very different state of matters from that which obtained in the days of paid agents and messengers.

Excepting at the election period, the Habitation can organise public meetings, invite able speakers, or obtain from the central office some of their staff of lecturers to explain and develope the objects of the League and further its spread. One of the chief duties incumbent on every Primrose centre is to combat and destroy the Radical fallacy that in modern politics classes are antagonistic. The League, on the contrary, brings all classes together. All vote on a footing of absolute equality, and all meet on terms of the truest fraternity. To this end, it is best that all social gatherings should be held in some public hall, where every knight, dame, or associate can contribute of his knowledge or talent to the instruction and amusement of the evening. We have seen hundreds of such meetings where the enunciation of sound constitutional principles has been varied by ballad-singing and instrumental performances volunteered by those best qualified to please.

Within its limits the Habitation preserves strict order and discipline. It obeys the precepts of the Grand Council, and annually sends delegates to Grand Habitation, which is held in London on or near the 19th of April, on which occasion the Grand Council renews its members and its life by the votes of those present. On the last occasion, besides spectators, there were 2,500 delegates present. Important statutes and ordinances were framed or modified, for, as this new institution grows, many are the new requirements to meet its vast expansion, as well as to satisfy the demands for progress and improvement which are put forward from active centres.

The Habitation such as it has been described is bound to take heed of precepts issued by the Grand Council, such as, for instance, the suspension of its functions during election time; but in all other matters it is left a wide liberty, and frames its own by-laws subject to superior approval, which is rarely withheld. No questions of the smaller current politics disturb its deliberations. These should tend

only to the upholding of religion, constitution, and empire, and necessarily embrace men of different tenets, united firmly in support of these cardinal principles.

The members of the League work for the return of constitutional candidates whenever they present themselves, irrespective of their professions on minor points. Only when the question of the day touches one of its three great principles does the League take distinct action. When the honour of the Empire was at stake with the life of the heroic Gordon, every Habitation sent up a petition for his rescue; and now again, when the existence of the United Kingdom is menaced, the League has been active in the defence of our imperilled Constitution.

The most remarkable feature, however, of this stirring political development has been that for the first time in our history women have taken an active part in controversies hitherto reserved to men. The reason of this, in the first place, is the novelty and suddenness of the Radical and Fenian onslaught. Women, with an instinct peculiarly their own, divined at once the dangers involved in the new doctrines and theories-perceived that if churches were to be overthrown, education divorced from religion, property held to ransom, the Constitution to be riven asunder, England must be in presence of as serious a revolution as ever threatened social order or preceded a Reign of Terror. The women of England speedily adopted the Primrose banner, and the dames, armed with sweet influence and persuasive eloquence, boldly came forward to take their share in the labours of the organisation. Their aid has proved invaluable. Many a lady well known in the world has spoken at meetings, chiefly of friends and neighbours, who have surrendered to the expressions of heartfelt conviction. Many another has devoted all her time and energy to the formation of Habitations in her county or borough; while the working woman has not been behind her sister in enthusiasm or self-sacrifice. The first badge of honour for special service given by the League was conferred on a woman in the West of England, whose daily bread depended on her labour, but who had devoted all her spare time to the cause, and who had richly deserved the honour by her conspicuous services. The ladies have an Executive Committee of their own-meeting every week-working in conjunction with the chief authority; and in business capacity, attention to their manifold duties and powers of management, they have proved themselves in every respect fitted for the responsible duties they have undertaken. The ladies have a fund of their own, and employ it well in the distribution of Primrose literature.

The reader of the London and country press, on taking up almost any newspaper, will see what constant activity is everywhere displayed by the dames, who in every parish in England are endeavouring to promulgate the fundamental principles necessary for the

safety of the commonwealth. No ranting pothouse politician, full of fallacies, can compete with the men and women who, stepping out from the accustomed reserve of their own homes, come forward to meet their fellows in fraternal intercourse, and to discuss with them. the origin of error and the ways of truth. The enormous increase in the number of the League dates especially from the time when the ladies first took up their place in its organisation, and it is only due to them to acknowledge in how large a measure the great success achieved has been owing to their efforts.

When the first Festival was held in 1884, after the newborn institution had been nine months in existence, there were a few thousand members, chiefly knights. By Primrose Day 1885, more dames had joined, and 2,000 associates, and our muster-roll was upwards of 11,000. Before and after the election of 1885, the League expanded so rapidly that it was difficult at headquarters to keep pace with the demand for diplomas and warrants. On Primrose Day 1886, the third hundred thousand was reached; while to-day there are more than 350,000 knights, dames, and associates banded together in an enterprise that may now be esteemed a permanent institution.

In round numbers there may be said to be 50,000 knights, 30,000 dames, and 280,000 associates. The knights pay a tribute of half-a-crown yearly; so also do the dames, with the exception of those belonging to the Dames' Grand Council, who pay a guinea. The associates pay nothing to the Grand Council, but a small tribute, generally sixpence, to their own Habitation. The books and balancesheets of the League have been audited by public accountants, and were approved by a committee of delegates at the last Grand Habitation. It is not usual to publish the accounts of political associations. Three years ago opponents would have laughed at the poverty of the League; now they carp at its wealth. But with the money it receives it has to maintain an organisation that has become very large. It issues millions of tracts and leaflets; provides thousands of lectures where local eloquence is deficient or timid; maintains a large staff that necessarily increases with the work, and finds, for instance, that a thousand pounds does not cover the year's postage. Of the Grand Council, which meets once a fortnight with an average attendance of thirty, there is hardly a man of whom it may not be em-· phatically said that he is a man of business, and the best interests of the League are therefore closely looked after. It may be mentioned that already a portion of the tribute is remitted to Habitations to aid them in maintaining and perfecting their individual organisation.

Some sorry sneers have been directed against the nomenclature and decorations of the Primrose League, but the answer to these is found in the fact that all are proud to bear the titles which testify to their energy and chivalrous work. The badges are of enormous value, for they are not only a certificate of membership but an absolute

introduction into all Primrose circles, and thus give every member the opportunity of using his talents and influence in every part of the country. They afford also the opportunity of promotion in rank, and are accompanied by the distinction of clasps conferred for good service. Every associate can earn promotion, without fee or tribute, to high rank, upon representation by the Habitation to which he belongs that he is deserving of the honour.

And here occurs the obvious reflection that any man making his way to distinction through the grades of the Primrose League has the road open to him for all political eminence. He who cares to study public affairs and to cultivate his talents, with a view to the persuasion of others and the defence of approved principle, will soon make his mark and be welcomed as one of those who can guide men aright.

The people have sought for a new faith in these times of change and turmoil. Many were led astray by the loud outcry of Radicals and Revolutionists. But a true doctrine has now been propounded. It is based on the highest traditions of British statesmanship as handed down by Pitt and Palmerston and Beaconsfield. The symbol is the popular flower, that suggests lessons of patience through the winter time, and breathes all the bright promise of spring; that blossoms beneath the imperial oak, and to all Englishmen speaks of home. It appeals to a people the most adventurous that the world has ever seen, ready to quit the mansion or the cottage at the call of the country on its world-encircling mission of colonisation and empire. It reminds all of the blessings of constitutional government and true liberty based on the choice and the devotion of the people.

'Peace with honour,' 'Imperium et Libertas,' and many another glorious motto are emblazoned on our banners. They will be carried to victory with all that determination and tenacity which has ever characterised the nation. The land of all the great kings and statesmen who have guided us from small beginnings to our high estate will certainly vindicate their memories, and take care that under the reign of our illustrious Sovereign, her realm shall suffer no loss, but shall be maintained and extended and consolidated as a glorious heritage. for our children, a blessing to civilisation, and an example to mankind.

ALGERNON BORTHWICK.